The American Health Council has welcomed Dr. Penny Elizabeth DeFranco, MD, as ” Best in Medicine” in recognition of her extensive experience in Nephrology.

Board-certified in Nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. DeFranco has a wealth of medical knowledge in Nephrology, the field of medicine that specializes in Kidney function, that she has gained over the course of her 3-decade career.

Dr. DeFranco began her academic career by enrolling at Utesa University Medical School in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1985. Following on from this, she completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the acclaimed St. Luke’s hospital, Missouri. Dr. DeFranco then completed a fellowship in Nephrology at St. Louis University Medical Center in St. Louis in 1995, helping her to specialize in this niche field.

Dr. DeFranco chose to found her own clinic, South Mountain Nephrology, to help as many people as she could and has successfully grown her practice over the past 18 years. Specializing in Nephrology, South Mountain Nephrology is committed to supporting its patients through its treatments and providing increased access via extended hours. Focusing on all areas of kidney care to include functionality, treating illness and disease, prevention disease and post-transplant care.

In a continuous effort to broaden her knowledge, Dr. DeFranco is affiliated with several hospitals such as Hackensack Meridian Health, Mountainside Medical Center, Clara Maas Medical Center, and St. Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. DeFranco is also an active member of the American Society of Nephrology so she can share her expertise with other esteemed professionals.

Outside of work, Dr. DeFranco also dedicates her time to the Clara Maas Women’s Physicians Group and is also a keen participant of The National Kidney Foundation walks.

When reflecting on her successes to date, Dr. DeFranco attributes her own achievements to her high levels of patient care and honors the memory of her parents, Domenick and Joan DeFranco as being vital contributors to her success.